The Toshiba RD-XS35 matches a DVD recorder with a digital video recorder (DVR), combining two useful digital recording mediums in one space-saving unit. The feature list is certainly impressive, but unfortunately the RD-XS35 doesn't live up to its potential.

With its integrated 160GB hard drive, the RD-XS35 can record over 135 hours of standard-definition television content. Keep in mind that this unit is not compatible with high-definition programming. Once recorded, you can watch the programming at your leisure, and then delete it or transfer it to recordable DVD. The hard drive also enables a host of TiVo-like features, so you can pause live TV, instantly replay a missed line of dialogue, fast-forward through recorded content and watch a show from the beginning while the end continues to record.

This single-disc unit records to DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM, and the latter enables time-slip recording so you can watch the beginning of program on disc while the end is still recording. The RD-XS35 can play back DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, CD and CD-R/RW, including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA music files, as well as JPEG images. This player offers progressive scan playback when connected via the component video output to a digital TV, and surround sound signals can be routed through the optical digital audio output to a home theater receiver.

While the feature list is comprehensive, the RD-XS35 can be frustrating to operate. Scheduling recordings for DVD and the DVR are made through the TV Guide On Screen programming guide, but the guide is slow to load, is short on features and has very few customizable options. The included remote control has TV controls, but the button layout is not intuitive. A final complaint concerns the RD-XS35's cooling fan, which seems to constantly run at a clearly audible level.

The feature-rich RD-XS35 even has digital noise reduction, a black level expander and on-screen camcorder download controls, but these are overshadowed by the cumbersome operation. While impressive on paper, the Toshiba RD-XS35's annoying quirks prevent us from giving it a higher recommendation.


Pros:  DVD recorder and DVR in one unit, long feature list, records to DVD-RAM
Cons:  On-screen guide awkward to use, not very user-friendly

Warranty
90 days labor, 1 year parts